Wichita eagle., 1887-08-25
IN GIRLDOM.

Some few years back l was spending
part of nv first long vacation at Oxbridge
with some friends in Canshire. Just as my
visit was terminating toward the end OF July
/ received letter from home, asking me to
bring back with me a sister, whose term at
school in Skipperton, town in the same
county, ended about that time. In an evil
hour consented and made my way to Skip
perton. got there on a Saturday, expecting
to go on III the course of the same day; but it
was not to be. Having left my luggage at
this most perplexing of stations, l walked to
the address, algebra Lodge" and found a
fine old house of some size, fronted by
paiufully trim gravel walk and meager
flower beds.
On the door being opened in answer to my
ring, was ushered by particularly tidy
maid into a sitting room Of quite exceptional
neatness This excessive order everywhere
made me feel nervous; | reflected that l had
been travelling, saw that my clothes were
dusty, felt my necktie awry. and shuddered
at the thought of possible smudge on my
face However, there was no time to put
things ship shape, for a rustling was heard,
and in came the head mistress herself. Now
| had heard very bad accounts Of Miss
Spinney, for such was her name, from
my sister and her friends. She was
spiteful, cross as two sticks, would read
letters, even open them when marked
private" with a double dash, always
contiscated nice novels, and was quite too
dreadfully suspicious of cousins" who might
wish to call. Being, venture to say, man
IF in fhaca matters | had
heavily discounted these notes of character,
putting Sensational" instead of mice" before
novels, and considering that letters marked
private" with double dash, were probably
quite as suspicious as the cousins" from
whom they might emanate. tHow often
does the word cousin" cover a multitude of
sinsD Still | was not prepared for so nice a
person as Miss Spinney turned out to be. She
had ringlets indeed but not of the rigid black
corkscrew description l had expected; hers
were of soft gray color; instead OF being
angular, she was decidedly round; instead of
staring me out of countenance with hard
stony eyes, she beamed upon me most effu-
sively through gold trimmed spectacles.
After putting Inc thoroughly at my ease,
she informed me very pleasantly that my
sister could not possibly be ready to leave
before Monday. At this 1 was naturally
aghast, but after a moments consideration
replied that could put up for Sunday at the
Grown"
"The Grown, said the generous spinster;
mo such thingi | can give you spare room,
and you will have all you want ill my own
part of the house. besides being near your
sister"
Overcome by her warmth l gave in at once
and accepted her offer. No sooner had l
started on my way to the station to fetch my
luggage than my heart msgave me-but it
was too late; the die was cast Sadly en-
tered cab, and gloomier grew my thoughts
as l again approached Algebra Lodge.
just as the miserable horse drew up to the
gate the young ladies We're returning from
their afternoons walk, two by two in the ap-
proved style. stepped out and had to en-
counter the gaze of twenty pairs of eager
eyes, This so unnerved me that offered the
cabman penny instead of form, which he
held up to the gaze of the aforesaid eyes to
complete my discontinue. | do not know
how l should have staggered into the house
had it not been for the assistance of my sister,
having first disguised me by a frantic and
public embrace and addressing me as "Pug!"
touCll, oidS, was buc ny ultn was
maliglled at home-a name filter for a dog
than man! However, | did manage to get
in, and ON being shown to a room cooled my
face and feelings in basin of water Oh,
why did l not mark that ROOM Suffice it to
say that did not, but descended calelessly to
tea, a coy meal which | shared with Miss
Spinney and my sister i'll comfortable room
known as the library.
After tea | proposed to take my sister for a
drive, i'll order that 1 might see something of
the country round. Leave was extended
until 9, and little pony trap was soon at the
door. Now am little vain of my driving
powers, and therefore was not sorry to see all
available windows occupied by curious faces
we got in. l gently shook the reins, but
the pony stood stock still; l smartly touched
him on the ear, in response to which he play
fully kicked up his hind legs and fiicked his
tail. Again and again l repeated the dose,
but with no more encouraging result At
last the knOtted end of the lash caught him
sharp on the nostril, and, stung with pain, he
started forward with such jerk that lost
my hat After severe struggle he was
hauled in, and my hat restored. but altogether
| felt that the whole incident had been with
out dignity, if not positively ridiculous, and
my pleasure in the drive was utterly de-
stroyed
As soon we got back, my sister was
packed Off somewhere or other, while made
my way to the library, where l found Miss
Spinney and three of the teachers, one
looking rather duenna like, the other two
young and decidedly progressing, all
gathered round the supper table This
enjoyable meal over. Miss Spinney re-
tired and left the four of Us alone. We
had got on e1cellently at supper after the
first awbwardnesS had worn off, the duenna.
i'll particular, thawing in the most surprising
manner; and now she actually proposed
rubber The rubber was great fun; my part
ner had pretty blue eyes, and used them in
the most charming way to signal messages,
which kept me always on the 9ui vive to in
terpret and reply 10. Sometimes our tele-
graphic glanceS were intercepted by the
duenna on my left; the first time l became
preternaturally solemn and was instantly alb
sorbed in my hand. but looking out of the
corner of my eye l thought l noticed an
amused expression fit across her face, so my
courage was restored, and thenceforwari our
eyes were quite unblushingly bold Indeed,
presently proposed TO initiate the party into
what | said was simple household game
called poker the proposal was received
with reclamation.
II have SO often read of the game in Bret
Harte's touching stories, and wondered what
it was like said the duenna
They were apt pupils. or my enthusiasm
for the game was contagious, and the bets
that Were made We're quite shocking to see,
as the poet of the game would have observed
had he assisted at it now 1t is true we
were not playing for money-what then.
Blue eyes knew as well as / did. or perhaps
as the reader has OWNED But all happiness
must have an end, and at 1890 the duenna,